WestJet has agreed to pay $4.5 million to resolve a sexual harassment class-action lawsuit initiated a decade ago involving over 3,000 flight attendants, as confirmed by the lead plaintiff and her legal representative. The terms of the settlement, which were finalized in June, were approved by a B.C. judge on Monday. WestJet expressed satisfaction in reaching a resolution.
The lawsuit was initiated by former flight attendant Mandalena Lewis, who accused a pilot of sexually assaulting her during a layover in Hawaii in 2010. Following the lawsuit filed in 2016, additional female employees of the airline came forward, leading to the case being certified as a class action by the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2022.
The flight attendants alleged that WestJet did not provide a safe working environment with adequate measures to prevent harassment. Lewis, speaking to CBC News, expressed relief that the case has concluded but mentioned feeling unsatisfied with the settlement amount, considering it symbolic and WestJet’s lack of admission of wrongdoing.
The $4.5 million settlement will be distributed among 3,452 flight attendants after deducting expenses, including legal fees, amounting to approximately $400 per flight attendant involved. Lewis also mentioned that the judge reduced her agreed-upon honorarium to $10,000 from $20,000.
WestJet stated its commitment to enhancing operations and training to prioritize the safety and well-being of its employees. As part of the settlement terms, a third-party consultant will conduct a workplace assessment to evaluate the prevalence of harassment, underreporting levels, and methods to improve reporting and response systems.
Lewis described the legal process as a “nightmare,” citing the physical and emotional toll of supporting numerous former flight attendants who shared their harassment experiences with her. She emphasized that sexual harassment of female flight attendants remains a systemic issue in the airline industry.
In response to the settlement, lawyer Joshua Coratti from the Toronto employment law firm Ball Professional Corporation viewed it as advantageous for WestJet, potentially shielding the company from more costly individual claims and highlighting the significance of prohibiting such behavior in the corporate sector.
The resolution of the class-action suit alleged that WestJet violated employment contracts with female flight attendants by failing to establish and maintain an adequate anti-harassment program. WestJet refuted these claims, with the compensation basis focusing on costs the airline purportedly saved by not implementing sufficient anti-harassment measures, rather than compensating the flight attendants for their endured hardships.
